Blade 350 QX3 Review

Blade 350 QX3 Review

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The BLADE 350 QX3 (RTF) basically has everything you could ask for when it comes to a reliable quadcopter. It’s great for beginners, performs well, and has a really impressive battery life. This time, I decided to take this mid-sized quadcopter out for a fly and covered all the basics in my Blade 350 QX3 review below.

What’s In The Box?

What you get here is the quadcopter itself, a manual, the transmitter, the battery and a charger.

Although it isn’t included, you’re able to attach a GoPro camera with ease. I think this is great if you’re not actually buying a drone for taking pictures or video but still want a good quality quadcopter.

Before taking the 350 QX3 out, I took the time to read the manual online. There’s quite a bit to read but you will only benefit from it later on. I choose to look at the manual prior to receiving my drone to be prepared, and save time.

Pros:

Cons:

Camera Not included

No propeller guard

The quadcopter is fitted with a mast–mounted GPS antenna that enhances tracking of the drone. The drone uses Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope technology to determine how it takes off and lands without necessarily requiring your participation.

There is Smart Mode that is reserved for novice pilots and is such a great feature if you’ve never flown a quadcopter before in your life. Believe me, it’s that easy to at least learn the basics in Smart Mode.

When the drone is in this mode, it will fly in the direction of the control stick regardless of whether the nose is facing west or east. Besides that, the Smart Mode initiates a safe circle barrier to push the drone away from the pilot.

Another feature is the Aerial Photography mode (AP mode). This is meant for professional pilots and it’s ideal for taking spectacular HD videos and pictures, giving you more control of your drone. In this mode the safe circle barrier doesn’t function, meaning you can film close-ups of yourself. Moreover, the drone moves according to the signals it gets from the transmitter control sticks, but if you want the drone to stay in a fixed position, simply let go of the sticks and it will hover there. This was great for when I wanted to focus on my filming, but also handy if you ever lose control of the drone.

Both the Agility & Stability modes are designed to give you complete full control of your drone and are purely for the more experienced flyers who wish to perform tricks and push this quadcopter to the limits.

The drone has four propellers where two of them are red for easy spotting and determining the front. The drone is fitted with unique landing legs which are sturdy and are designed to keep your fitted camera safe as makes contact with the ground.

I mentioned this at the beginning, but I was really happy with the flying time. With a fully charged battery, you can have your quadcopter up in the air for 15 minutes. Compared to other models in the same price range, this is actually really impressive, especially for its weight too.

Flying:

To begin, I gently push the left control stick away from you and the quadcopter will take off. If I release the pressure from the sticks, it will then hover in that spot, and this is because it reads the GPS signals. One of the first things I notice once it was in the air is how quiet it actually is. It’s not dead silent, but there is a faint humming sound. This doesn’t really matter and won’t affect any recordings as your camera won’t pick up the audio anyways, just the video.
The higher I took the drone and let it hover, I noticed it swaying a little on my video playback. I was out in an open field and there was a little wind. Not enough to pose a danger to the quadcopter, but being a lightweight quad, the wind can sway it a little as it’s fixed.
Landing couldn’t be easier, especially since you really don’t have to do anything yourself. By switching to Return Home, the drone is able to make a steady and precise landing on the ground where it took off from and then switches itself off. I was really happy with how it handled in the air.

Comparison:

Although the Blade 350 QX3 is a one of a kind quadcopter, and triumphs over the other models, let take a quick look at some alternatives that can match its performance and features from BLADE.

You can opt for the Blade 200 QX BNF or Blade 350 QX2. These alternatives are actually cheaper than the Blade 350 QX3, however, the transmitter is sold separately on both models.

Blade 350 QX2 drone is the second best deal in this ranking. This Quadcopter has 5.8GHz Wi-Fi network that pairs with the synced devices on the ground. The drone can fly for ten minutes thanks to its rechargeable battery that keeps 3,000 mAh. The drone has two recharging options that include DC and AC power. You can, therefore, recharge the battery even if you’re miles away from electricity.

The drone is flown using a DX4 transmitter. When the flight is not going as planned, you will be the first to know because it has a visual error detection. The downside is that the 350 QX2 lacks a carrier case and propeller guard.

The Blade 200 QX BNF is at the bottom of this ranking. The aircraft’s four propellers are driven by high-performance brushless motors. Unfortunately, again, the transmitter is not included in the package and so you have to budget for it. The good thing about this drone is that you can fly it during the day and at night. This is due to the fact that it comes with LED lights, which a lot of other drones lack.

The drone doesn’t have a camera or a Gimbal, and will have to be purchased separately. The aircraft flies for seven minutes in a single flight. The quadcopter has three flight modes. The easy mode is recommended for beginners because the drone can level itself if you find yourself in trouble. The chosen mode is indicated by a green light. The other modes are indicated by red and blue lights respectively. If you see the lights blinking repeatedly, you should land the drone immediately because it’s running out of power.

Verdict:

The technology behind this model is amazing! Anyone can fly the Blade 350 QX3 using Smart Mode; it completely simplifies flying. The Aerial Photography Mode, Agility Mode and Stability Mode will keep seasoned pilots occupied, so there is no excuse for not exploring the airspace with this amazing aircraft. The drone is fitted with a box that can hold a standard size GoPro camera to enable you to take stunning HD pictures and videos. Tracking the drone is not a problem because it has a mast mounted GPS antenna, meaning you are now less likely to lose your drone over vast distances.
This video below lets you have a look at the awesome features, and as you can see, you don’t need to be an experienced pilot to be able to fly the QX3…

Full credit goes to Blade Helis.

Where To Buy:

Below are the links for the 350 QX3 with some additional accessories you might be interested in.

Popular Questions and Answers:

Q: I’ve seen models that the transmitter is not included. Can you confirm that this does?
A: Yes, the transmitter is included in the RTF, or Ready To Fly version.

Q: Can I fly this with a smartphone?
A: Absolutely not. There’s actually an app you can use with your smart device to control the camera only, not the drone itself.

Q: Can I fit a GoPro Hero 4?
A: Yes, the GoPro Hero 4 will fit in the camera mount attached.

Q: What’s the top speed of this model
A: I’d say anywhere between 40 – 50mph in Agility Mode, however, slower in Safe Mode.

Q: Is the Blade 350 QX3 waterproof?
A: No, it isn’t. I would avoid flying this out on a rainy day as you could risk damaging the unit permanently.

Conclusion:

In fact, the drone uses the GPS system to find its way back to the starting point, which would be very appealing to beginner flyers.

The drone avoids hovering over your head by initiating a safe circular barrier. If you want to take pictures and videos, the drone has an inbuilt camera box that is below the main body, giving you the option to attach a camera or not. The drone can capture quality videos and photos when it’s switched to Aerial Photography Mode.

Besides that, the aircraft uses Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope technology to limit how far it can go. A single flight lasts for 15 minutes, but you can fly the drone as many times as you wish as long as you keep on recharging the battery or bring an extra charged battery, sold separately from Amazon.

Once again, I found flying this quadcopter a pleasure, and all the features were pretty straight forward and easy to use. If you ever get stuck, the Return Home switch is right on the top of the transmitter, think of it as a safety net. Once you get the hang of it and become more familiar with the controls, expect to have loads of fun, no matter which version you decide on.

So, that’s it. Thanks for taking the time to read my Blade 350 QX3 review. If there are any questions or comments you’d like to leave, or simply want to discuss the QX3, please do so below or check out the Q&As. And please remember to bookmark and share so you don’t miss out on anything! Follow us on Twitter here!

Thanks, Sammy. Yeah, I just wanted to point out the price difference, and to mention just how good the 350 QX3 actually is. You don’t always have to buy the latest, most expensive drone, especially for beginners 🙂

This is my first encounter into the world of drones and I must say that you have given a very comprehensive review. I understand much more about drones than I did before. For example, the way they are controlled. I would be interested to use to take pictures.
You Know your subject matter and I thank you for getting this to the public.

Thanks Marty. I just have so much fun flying things, not only drones but RC planes and helicopters. Since drones are becoming more popular, I thought I’d offer my wisdom to those who are new to the drone world and would like to learn a little more about them.
Thanks for reading and commenting,
David.

Hey, good review on drone. I never know anything much about drone before but after going through your review, it seems that it is going to be quite fun and excited to operate the functions of a drone. It is fun to know the operations like Agility & Stability modes which are totally new to me but seems to be quite interesting.

Hi, I have never flown a drone before so I really enjoyed your article. Glad there is a Smart Mode since I am definitely a novice. I am a photographer and this is one way that I have been wanting to take pictures. I know the photos would be amazing! So this does have an attachment for a Canon or Nikon?

Hey Misty, I believe there is no disadvantage in using a drone to take pictures and that so much more can be achieved that otherwise wouldn’t be possible without one.
With the Blade 350 QX3, there is a mount fitted so you can attach a GoPro to it, however, you have the option to buy one with a camera already included. Both links are on this page.
I hope this helps!
David.

Good looking drone. This is more my price range. I’ve read a lot of reviews on the Internet and they fail to include what accessories go for that particular drone.
There are a lot of people like me that don’t know too much about drones and wouldn’t know what battery to get. So thanks for adding the extra stuff. I really do appreciate it, man.

Thanks Lucas. My layout is based on what my experiences are looking for things online. I try to keep my reviews and posts user friendly and very easy to understand, for both the beginners and advanced pilots.

Damn! I bought this one from an RC shop near me for $599. The guy said it’s a good price as its been out for a while. I should’ve check online first.
Anyways, I just came here to ask if this drone is good for racing other drones?
Awaiting your reply,

Hey David,
I bought my son the 350 QX3 for Christmas last year and he absolutely loves it. He’s 16, I don’t think I’d get a drone like this for younger children because of the price and I don’t consider this one a toy. I think it can still be used by serious hobbyists.
Philip

Hi Philip,
That’s great that your son has taken an interest in drones. Having dealt with many quads over the past year, I agree that this isn’t what I would call a “toy”. There are a few out there, particularly the mini or micro drones that are toy-class, and I don’t see the 350 QX3 fitting into that category.
Thanks for commenting,
David.

Thanks a lot for this thorough review. I was on the fence about buying this or the Bebop, but decided to go for this instead. I ended up ordering a secondary battery once my package arrived. I kinda wish I ordered together, but it’s only a couple of days.
Although this isn’t the first drone I’ve owned, I must say I’m really impressed with the way the QX3 handles. Hopefully this keeps me going till the Phantom 4 has been out and reduced in price.

Hey mate, after reading this I ended up getting one, without the camera. I know my kids will want to play with it and the last thing I need is the neighbours complaining that they’re being filmed from over the fence.
Can I ask, is that a common occurrence? I know it’s against the law to film people without their prior knowledge.

Hello Steve, you’re right in that there are definitely regulations on place to prohibit filming unwanted individuals, and the pilot can face fines if caught, but as far as I know, there aren’t too many instances like this being reported.

Thanks for once again delivering a fantastic review, David. It’s great how much detail you go into. I’m looking around at the moment, and came here to check out what the Blade is all about. It seems easy to control and is user friendly. I’ll check out a few more and finally order my first ever drone 🙂

I mainly use the DJI phantom2 with my GoPro Hero4 camera. I have heard of the Blade drones many times before but never had the chance to put my hand on one. How is it compared to the DJI? Does it have an auto-return home feature? Is there a way to increase the flight time for more than 15minutes, maybe using compatible aftermarket batteries? Thanks!

Hey Michel, the QX3 controls are really smooth, but for some reason, I would still choose the Phantom 3 over this. Unfortunately, I haven’t flown the Phantom 2 yet, so I can’t say much about that just yet.
This drone does have a Return To Home feature, and replaceable batteries are available from Amazon and the manufacturer for extended flying times.
Thanks for commenting!

Awesome flying objects … But so expensive almost $1000 for a unit … Gotta dig deep into my pockets! But with what it can do, simply so cool.
Perhaps can wait for a while for the price to come down or special discounts. Perhaps wait for Black Friday … Months away … Thanks for the info. Apeng.

Hey there Apeng, you’re right that a grand for a drone can seem expensive, especially if you’re new to the hobby. However, there are much cheaper drones which are way more suitable for first-time pilots! Like you said, over time, these expensive drones will definitely go down in price!
Thanks for commenting and good luck!

Nice site. I liked the comparison on products and the Q&A bit. Very good idea. This will make deciding on my first drone a little easier. I can’t wait to read more! Is there a way to subscribe to updates? Thanks again for this great review on the 350 QX3!

Hey Stella, thanks so much for commenting. I’m glad this site has been able to help! At the moment, you can like our facebook page for all the latest updates and news, https://www.facebook.com/droneobsessions/

Nice cute quad-o-copter, I’ve always been fascinated with these little “toys”.
I’ve never owned one myself though, so blade 350 QX3 would be a great place to start as a beginner?
Smart Mode sounds very nice, especially safe circle barrier to push drone away from the pilot. That’s some neat engineering stuff right there. Thumbs up!
So, on the other hand, how hard it is to make this thing crash if you’re really trying to do so? Agility mode seems pretty aggressive & I believe it keeps even advanced pilots occupied considering the fact it also goes up to 50 mph. That’s a lot for a tiny plastic thing.
Obviously the main focus has been put on stability & on features to make the handling as easy as possible. Okay, we know now that this model can’t be used when it rains outside.. What about windy weather? What do you think.. How fast wind it could technically handle? & I’m not actually thinking about tsunamis, lol.
Thanks in advance! You got me very curious

Hey Henry,
Thanks for commenting! I reckon the QX3 is a great drone to start with as it handles really well and has many features to aid beginner flyers. You could definitely crash this quad, and any other, if you really wanted to, lol. However, that’s not to say this is difficult to fly, and with a little practice, you can get the hang of it with ease.
I didn’t really fly this in windy conditions, but according to this video, the QX3 can withstand winds of up to 20kph, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x77NYKlqY94
I hope I’ve been able to help you out and stay tuned for more reviews soon!
David.